Sofia is gone, bring on the DC-8

[Splitpin]

Found a NASA site that detailed the DC-8 mission down under next month.
If all works out N817NA will arrive at CHC from American Samoa at 1400hrs on the 9th of August ..... shes on the ground for 3 days (crew rest and service) and departs at 0330hrs on the 13th for south america.
The mission is a 26 day around the world atmospheric study called "ATom"

Interesting to note , the aircraft itself is almost 50 years old ... born on April 8th 1969, which makes it a 60 series ?

They will be doing some interesting flying ...... drifting down from 35000 feet to 500 feet (over the ocean), and then climbing back again "sniffing"the air as they go.

[Ian Warren]

Interesting to note , the aircraft itself is almost 50 years old ... born on April 8th 1969, which makes it a 60 series ?

The 60 series was the first extra stretched , this would be more a late 54 or 55 variant re-engine with the CFM motors

[Lindstrim]

https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... 817NA-NASA

This one was produced as a -62H but is called a 72 due to the CFM engines

[Ian Warren]

Thanks for the info Lindy, Yeah you can see the stretched hull , early photo was not so defining, thanks for the link

[Splitpin]

A little off topic as i cant be bothered opening a new subject without a pic ... but today , I saw an RAAF Wedgetail in finals .
Not sure if its still there , will have a man on the ground in the morning to check it out.
He was followed in later by an LC-130 ... and yesterday i spotted a P-3 outbound ...its all go at CHC

[Ian Warren]

...its all go at CHC

Thing I love about this time of the year, maybe another mission .. packing up with tucker,drink and camera gear myself ... I really need the exercise.

[Splitpin]

...its all go at CHC

Thing I love about this time of the year, maybe another mission .. packing up with tucker,drink and camera gear myself ... I really need the exercise.

Not on your bike ! We can load up the car and do it that way ... the cameras, tripods , a few beers and a big bucket of KFC .

[Ian Warren]

...its all go at CHC

Thing I love about this time of the year, maybe another mission .. packing up with tucker,drink and camera gear myself ... I really need the exercise.

Not on your bike ! We can load up the car and do it that way ... the cameras, tripods , a few beers and a big bucket of KFC .

That really sounds like a gorgeous plan, we really did a wicked recon with the 787 , bring Jono and Chris along ... the 'Three Amigos' and me, make for one hell of a morning come afternoon, the big guys jump in the seats, I'll jump in the boot.

[Splitpin]

A plan it is then ... i haven't been spotting for ages .
But lets do it this time ! and you can have the left hand front seat , i can fold the lads up in the back.

[Ian Warren]

, Ya missed One primary ... little movie making really requires the scanner .. sure beats and add to really what is going on ... I do need to practice my art on the bike , least if I disappear ya know exactly were to stat looking.

[Splitpin]

" little movie making really requires the scanner" all sorted .

[Ian Warren]

.. were all sorted then

[Splitpin]

:D .. were all sorted then

We are indeed , I have this weekend off , so maybe I'll pop over on Saturday and finalize this plan ... call you first of course.

[Ian Warren]

Notta prob .. appears to be cold and rubbish in the morrow .. least reported by ya weather peoples ..

[Lindstrim]

It's here, saw the tail on the walk in this afternoon. It was parked up at the terminal rather than the Deep Freeze apron, not too sure if it's going to get moved later.

[Ian Warren]

It's here, saw the tail on the walk in this afternoon. It was parked up at the terminal rather than the Deep Freeze apron, not too sure if it's going to get moved later.

Now that would be a superb photo , a NASA machine parked up at the terminal, I would say without a doubt it be tow back out to the USNF/USAF Deep Freeze parking spot. I do wonder how long it maybe here, maybe the opening of the new season and open day? .... ya no just to walk around an old eight and kick the tires.

[Lindstrim]

It's just departed, flew over the house, and if you get bored this rainy day in CHC you could try and copy their flight

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA817